Design WorkFlow Model

This guide explains how to create and edit workflow models on the visual canvas.

Create a New WorkFlow

1. Navigate to the Design WorkFlow Model module, and click the Add button.
2. Fill in the basic information:
   • Name: For instance, "Procurement Approval Process".
   • Description (Optional): A brief explanation of the process's purpose.
   • Type: Choose the business category of the process.
   • Remark (Optional): Internal remarks or tags.
3. Click Confirm. The system will generate a model in a Draft status.
4. Select the model from the list, and click View Details or Edit Model to enter the canvas.

Design Interface

The design interface boasts three primary areas:

Area	Description
Toolbar (Top)	Buttons for adding nodes, connections, auto-layout, undoing, and saving.
Canvas (Center)	The main area to drag, drop, and connect nodes interactively.
Properties Panel (Right)	Displays and enables editing for the properties of the selected element.

Add Nodes

1. From the toolbar, select the node type you want to add:
   • Start Event: Flow origin (mandatory, exact one)
   • End Event: Flow destination (at least one)
   • Activity: Intermediate task nodes
   • Gateway: Branching points
2. After clicking the toolbar button, click anywhere on the canvas to place your node.

Create Connections

1. Hover your cursor near the edge of a node; anchor points will appear.
2. Drag from one node's anchor point to another to create a directional line.
3. The arrow direction determines the progression of the business flow.

Tip

For gateway conditional routing, you can select the connection line and set its Branch Key in the properties panel.

Edit Node Properties

When you select a node, the properties panel on the right reveals its settings:

• ID: A unique auto-generated identifier.
• Z-Index: Order stack position on the canvas.
• Related Target Entity: Bounds the node to specific data resources (e.g. A Form Release).

Activity Nodes

Activity nodes feature:

• Task Type: User Task (manual interaction) / Service Task (automated backend functions).
• Enclosed Form: For User Tasks, you can bind a published form design template for the operator to fill out.

Gateway Nodes

Gateways configure:

• Data Entity: Determines which data supplies the evaluation criteria.
• Path Identifiers: Assign different branch_key values for each outgoing connection line to handle logical flows.

Process Issues Panel

The design interface includes a persistent "Process Issues" panel located under the Properties Panel on the right:

• The issues list continuously shows current structural errors and warnings for the model.
• The panel has a fixed initial height and can be resized by dragging the divider bar between the properties area and the issues list.
• The list is independently scrollable and will not overlap the properties editor above it.

When the model contains structural errors the system will typically block certain automated actions (for example auto-layout) and surface the specific problems in this panel so designers can correct them before publishing.

Save Design

Once you complete the design logic, click the Save button in the toolbar. The drafted workflow is now securely saved into the database.

Warning

Ensure structural integrity (a Start Event, End Events, and all other nodes having incoming/outgoing edges). The subsequent Publishing phase will strictly enforce these rules.